Storm-wave trends in Mexican waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Abstract

Abstract. Thirty-year time series of hindcast wave data were analysed for 10 coastal locations along the eastern Mexican coast to obtain information about storm events occurring in the region, with the goal of examining the possible presence of interannual trends in the number of storm-wave events and their main features (wave height, duration and energy content). The storms were defined according to their significant wave height and duration, and the events were classified as related to either tropical cyclones or Norte events. The occurrence and characteristics of both types of events were analysed independently. There is no statistically significant change in the number of storm-wave events related to Nortes or their characteristics during the study period. However, there is a subtle increase in the number of events related to tropical cyclones in the western Caribbean region and a more evident increase in wave height and energy content of these events.

Morphodynamic Response to Low-Crested Detached Breakwaters on a Sea Breeze-Dominated Coast

“…Thus, sea breezes play an important role in nearshore hydrodynamics [22] and sediment transport [23]. Furthermore, Central American cold surge (CACS) events, associated with cold-front passages, generate NNW swell waves that occur during winter months [24]. Appendini et al [25] found that the net potential (westward) of sediment transport in the area is approximately 35,000 m 3 /year and that such value is highly sensitive to shoreline orientation.…”

A First Comprehensive Baseline of Hydrocarbon Pollution in Gulf of Mexico Fishes

“…In 1979, the Ixtoc 1 platform within the Cantarell Oil Complex experienced a subsurface blowout that leaked for more than 9 months; ultimately releasing ~3 million barrels of oil into the Bay of Campeche and southern GoM 10 . The narrow shelf and large wave action in the southwestern GoM may result in the continuous flushing and removal of oil contamination and thus the reduction of chronic exposures in this region 38,39 .…”

Changes in the flooding area due to storm surge under climate change in an extensive wetland area in the southern Gulf of Mexico

“…In recent years, some researchers have studied the impacts of wind waves and storm surges associated with hurricanes and cold fronts on the Mexican coast. Based on a 30-yr wave hindcast, Appendini et al (2014) found that in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) the wave climate is mainly modulated by autumn-winter cold fronts, whereas extreme wave climate is modulated by both hurricanes and Nortes, which are anticyclonic cold surges that enter the GoM from North America, generating strong northerly winds and, therefore, presenting ideal conditions for fetch that cause mature wind waves (Ojeda et al, 2017). During Nortes in the GoM, the sustained prevailing winds blow southward and southeastward depending on the origin and orientation of fronts (Henry, 1979); therefore, they are expected to generate a displacement of sea waters to the south, where the wide continental shelf in the southern GoM favors the amplification of the storm surge processes.…”